Chapter 8 THE LOCKER JULY 1677
The jagged desert coastline is what may first come to mind when one arrives in the Locker.
But rather, that is merely a small part of it.
Beyond the African like desolate region, there is a beautiful tropical oasis that resembles a first class Caribbean island, complete with all the pleasures a sailor could have.
Taverns were stationed strategically on the coast and the streets were filled with woman.
The scene closely resembled Tortuga.
For the Royal Navy there was also a town resembling London, complete with all the buildings and people.
Not for the first time did the young ferryman wonder how such a replica could be created.
It was a work of the Ancients.
Pulling up to the pier, Flying Dutchman tied off and lowered her gangplank. "Alright, last stop. Everyone off who's plannin' to stay here!" She ordered gruffly.
The crew of the Illigous filed down one by one and each was immediately swarmed by a throng of man hungry whores, each with a full bottle of rum in hand.
Flying Dutchman laughed as each man was carted away.
"They'll have a jolly good time." She said, leaning forward as the local tribe's queen placed a wreath of flowers on her bow.
She kissed the ferryman before rejoining her tribe.
Flying Dutchman straightened up.
"Did you enjoy that?" Vandecker teased.
Flying Dutchman blushed despite herself. "Shut up!" She growled.
Vandecker just laughed leaving his ship to fume. "Ah, don't mind him." Jones said. "He just likes to tease you."
"I still don't like it." Flying Dutchman grumbled.
"Ya not supposed to lassie." He said. "He wants you to be annoyed."
"Why would he want that?" She asked.
"He likes ya. Oldest trick in the book." Jones shrugged.
"He likes me?!" Flying Dutchman repeated incredulously.
Jones nodded. "Aye and who wouldn't, a pretty lass like you." He replied.
Flying Dutchman ducked her head to hide her rising blush.
"Tis nothing to be ashamed of lass." Jones assured her. "Beauty is a good thing."
This only made Flying Dutchman blush harder.
Jones laughed and she huffed in annoyance.
"Shouldn't you be leaving too?" She growled.
"Oh lass you wound me so." Jones exclaimed, feigning hurt. "Not too long ago you were down on your 'knees' begging Vandecker to let me stay."
"That's an exaggeration." She sniffed. "I kept you around because Vandecker wants you around." She replied.
"I will get you eventually my dear Shadow." He said.
"Dream on Scott, dream on." She snorted.
He gave her rail a pat and walked off.
Shortly after, Flying Dutchman cast her lines and sailed off.
Britannia was her usual spot when she sailed in.
"What'd you find this time?" She asked.
"A shipwreck full of dead sailors. The Illigous. She went down in a storm."
"Illigous?!" Britannia repeated. "HMS Illigous?"
"She was apparently a pirate vessel." Flying Dutchman replied.
"I was aware she'd been stolen but I never knew she'd become a pirate because of it." Britannia bowed her head.
"You knew her?" Flying Dutchman guessed.
"I know every ship that's sailed under the Union Jack." Britannia answered, her voice hollow.
Flying Dutchman winced. "You know what I mean." She growled.
"She was one of the few ships in my force that survived that battle in the Cape." Britannia sighed.
Flying Dutchman nodded.
"She was already gone by the time I got there. I never sensed her presence."
"She must've already found her own way to he Ancients." Britannia said.
"I'm sorry." Flying Dutchman said, touching her nose gently to her mentor's side.
Britannia turned, pressing her prow against her apprentice.
"Thank you." She murmured.
She gave Flying Dutchman a gentle lick before she sailed out.
Flying Dutchman watched as her mentor sailed out a few miles before dropping anchor.
"Is she gonna be alright?" Jones asked.
"She'll be fine." Flying Dutchman replied, settling down in their shared berth.
"She seems so…" Jones struggled to find the right word. "Lonely."
Flying Dutchman nodded. "She is as timeless as the sea" She replied. "It's a lonely life."
"I can understand that." Jones said. "I never had any family besides me ship, me crew and the sea around them both."
"Sailing can be lonely but it doesn't have to be. I wish Britannia could see that." Flying Dutchman sighed.
"I think she does." Jones said. "She obviously cares for you a great deal."
"Duty." Flying Dutchman shrugged.
"Really, Long Shadow. I can't see how you can be so blind?!" Jones exclaimed, at long last losing patience.
"I can see it in her eyes, as clear as day that she loves you." He said.
"You really think so?" She asked, unable to keep the hopeful tone out of her voice.
"I know she does." He replied gently. "And I know you love her. You want her to love you back."
"I do love her yes." Flying Dutchman sighed.
"Well then…" Jones gestured towards the anchored ship.
Flying Dutchman raised an eyebrow at him.
"I still don't like you." She said.
"That's fine Dutchman, just fine." Jones shrugged.
Sighing, she sailed over to where her mentor was.
Britannia had her stern to her apprentice and Flying Dutchman wasn't even sure she heard her approach.
As she drew nearer however, the older ship spoke.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" She said to her, her eyes fixed on the setting son.
"I've always thought so." Flying Dutchman replied.
"As the sun sets, another rises." Britannia murmured.
"The circle will always continue. But sometimes I wish I could delay its progress." She sighed.
"So do I." Flying Dutchman agreed.
"It isn't easy to see the things you do." Britannia said.
"Do you ever-do you ever get used to it?" Flying Dutchman asked her.
Britannia shook her head. "No." She replied.
"No amount of time can ever ease the pain. Nor don't you ever wish to dull it. For a ship that cannot feel, is not a ship at all." She said.
Flying Dutchman nodded.
She glanced behind her at Jones.
Her first mate motioned with his hands.
Resisting the urge to roll her eyes at him, Flying Dutchman turned back to Britannia.
"I can't imagine how hard it must be for you. All the things you've seen. The joys, the horrors… Just know that I'm here for you. I'm not going anywhere either. As long as you need me, I'm here." She said.
Britannia's gaze softened and she gave her apprentice a nuzzle.
"I know, thank you Dutchman." She murmured.
Flying Dutchman, despite being a quarter her mentor's size, scooped Britannia up in a tight hug.
The older ship squeaked in surprise at this but settled nicely into that embrace, leaning against her apprentice.
Flying Dutchman smiled, resting her head over Britannia's decks as she pulled the larger ship closer to her.
"I love you Britannia." She whispered.
She heard Britannia's breath catch before she replied softly "I love you too."
She backed off, facing her apprentice.
"Come on." She said and led the way to her tent.
Pausing just outside the entrance, Flying Dutchman looked back at Jones again.
Her first mate gave her a thumbs up which she returned with a wink before disappearing inside.
Any unnatural sounds heard that night, Jones contributed to the wind but no one could mistake that knowing smile on his face.